The Michigan State Senate has passed two bipartisan bills that would require all tobacco retailers statewide to obtain operating licenses, aiming to strengthen oversight of youth tobacco use. The proposed legislation seeks to establish a unified statewide regulatory framework, including regular inspections, harsher penalties for selling tobacco to minors, regulation of online and delivery sales, and a ban on limited-time tobacco promotions. The bills have now been sent to the Michigan House of Representatives for further consideration.

Key Points at a Glance

• The Michigan Senate passed Senate Bills 462 and 465.
• The bills would require tobacco retailers to obtain operating licenses.
• They propose enhanced inspections and increased penalties for sales to minors.
• The legislation regulates online and delivery tobacco sales and bans limited-time promotions.
• The bills have been forwarded to the Michigan House of Representatives.

2Firsts, December 26, 2025 — According to the Michigan state government, the Michigan Senate passed two bipartisan pieces of legislation on the same day aimed at strengthening youth tobacco control efforts across the state.

The legislation is led by Senate Majority Floor Leader Sam Singh, a Democratic senator from East Lansing, and is co-sponsored by Republican Senator Joseph Bellino. Senate Bills 462 and 465 would require tobacco retailers to obtain operating licenses, aligning Michigan with the majority of U.S. states that already have similar requirements in place.

Singh stated that tobacco use is one of the leading causes of preventable death in Michigan and across the United States, and that youth tobacco use has become an increasingly serious public health concern. He emphasized that establishing a clear regulatory framework and strengthening retailer accountability would help ensure that Michigan’s minors receive the same level of protection as those in other states.

Under the proposed legislation, Michigan is currently among the small number of states that do not require tobacco retailers to be licensed. The bills aim to address this gap by creating a comprehensive statewide regulatory system to enhance enforcement and accountability.

Key provisions of the legislation include regular inspections of tobacco retail locations, increased penalties for selling tobacco products to minors, regulation of online and delivery-based tobacco sales, a prohibition on limited-time tobacco promotions, and the creation of a dedicated fund within the state’s fiscal system to support the administration and enforcement of the new regulations.

The bills have now been submitted to the Michigan House of Representatives for further deliberation. Meanwhile, similar House legislation—House Bills 5368 through 5372—which also enjoys bipartisan support, was introduced earlier this week.

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